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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) It’s a situation in which no progress is possible because of a disagreement or deadlock. That’s the definition of an impasse and that’s where the Valley City School Board and the Valley City Education Association is at in the mediation process.
Now a state fact finding committee of 3 members will hold a public hearing in October to address the issues at hand between the Valley City School board and the teachers in Valley City. North Dakota United Uniserv Director Deanna Paulson is a staff person who represents teachers. She explains the process.
North Dakota United President Nick Archuleta represents teachers in the state. He says he was disappointed by the Valley City School boards unwillingness to move on any of the disputed issues in the negotiated agreement.
Some of the key sticking points are a salary base increase of $200 for incoming teachers, health insurance funding formula method, paying teachers for unused sick leave upon retirement and salary step increase for teachers who received advance education degrees.
Valley City Education Association spokeswoman Kathy Lentz says we are shocked to learn their proposal implies not honoring the negotiated agreement by ignoring the Salary Schedule negotiated prior to 1991. During the September 4 mediation hearing Lentz said the salary step increase in the negotiated agreement could lead to a breach of contract if the school board is not willing to honor that clause.
Lentz says the mediation report released on September 13 illustrates the VCEA’s continued compromise and confirms that the Valley City School board had no intention to negotiate with the teachers.
But, the School Board Advisory committee believes with the interim fund sitting at 6.5 percent it’s not prudent at this time to approve any salary increases.
Valley City School board chairwoman Joyce Braunagel says the boards attorney Gary Thune has advised the board and the school superintendent not to comment on the negotiated agreement process until the state fact finding hearing in October.
